APPLAUSE FOR THE TIMES – AT 4:37 P.M. ET:  The liberal New York Times is to be commended for a hard-hitting piece on the fundraising activities of the Congressional Black Caucus.

For years the CBC, which claims to represent African-Americans, has been an "untouchable" on the political left.  Eric Hoffer, the legendary longshoreman-turned-philosopher, once remarked that all movements eventually become businesses, and then rackets.  We may well be seeing that here, as The Times reports:

WASHINGTON — When the Congressional Black Caucus wanted to pay off the mortgage on its foundation’s stately 1930s redbrick headquarters on Embassy Row, it turned to a familiar roster of friends: corporate backers like Wal-Mart, AT&T, General Motors, Coca-Cola and Altria, the nation’s largest tobacco company...

...Most political groups in Washington would have been barred by law from accepting that kind of direct aid from corporations. But by taking advantage of political finance laws, the caucus has built a fund-raising juggernaut unlike anything else in town.

And...

The caucus says its nonprofit groups are intended to help disadvantaged African-Americans by providing scholarships and internships to students, researching policy and holding seminars on topics like healthy living.

But the bulk of the money has been spent on elaborate conventions that have become a high point of the Washington social season, as well as the headquarters building, golf outings by members of Congress and an annual visit to a Mississippi casino resort.

The sad fact is that many African Americans, and their sincere allies, have been duped into believing that the CBC actually helps the disadvantaged.  Get this:

In 2008, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation spent more on the caterer for its signature legislative dinner and conference — nearly $700,000 for an event one organizer called “Hollywood on the Potomac” — than it gave out in scholarships, federal tax records show.

There has always been, in my view, a tendency within the black community to be too trusting of leaders.  It may come from the black church tradition.  But the result in politics is pretty predictable, and we're seeing that result laid out in this story.

There have been credible charges that the fundraising has brought the CBC too close to companies whose products may actually be harmful to the black community.  And the response:

Caucus leaders said the giving had not influenced them.

“We’re unbossed and unbought,” said Representative Barbara Lee, Democrat of California and chairwoman of the caucus. “Historically, we’ve been known as the conscience of the Congress, and we’re the ones bringing up issues that often go unnoticed or just aren’t on the table.”

Barbara Lee is the most left-leaning member of Congress, an ally of Fidel Castro, and the only member of Congress to vote against military action after the 9-11 attacks. 

Conscience of the Congress indeed.

This is great reporting, and brave for The Times.  Give credit where it's due.  Why don't I think the Pulitzer committee will notice?

February 13, 2010